Breakaway pinata

ABSTRACT

A piñata-like device is formed from cardboard panels and sub-panels. The structure is formed and held together by masking tape which is partially cut, across the seams of the panels and sub-panels. The container has an access opening to facilitate placement of goodies into the cavity. Each panel and sub-panel is provided with a ribbon. By pulling on the ribbons, the panels are frangibly detachable from one another. The strength of the attachment of the ribbons to the panels and sub-panels exceeds the strength of the masking tape holding the panels and sub-panels into a container form. When the ribbons are pulled, preferably substantially simultaneously, the panels substantially detach from one another, and any contents disposed within the cavity are made available, usually in a somewhat explosive manner. An end of each ribbon is passed through one or more slits in each panel and securely attached to a surface of the panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is directed to party favors and games, and morespecifically it is directed to party favors and games that contain candyand toys that are destructively opened, e.g., piñatas.

2. Description of the Related Art

Piñatas are known fun party favors and have been in use for many, manyyears. A typical piñata is made out of cardboard, paper maché, orsimilar material, is at least partially hollow, and is filled (either bythe consumer or the manufacturer) with candy or small toys. A typicalpiñata is hung from a ceiling, a tree limb, or other similar highstructure, and then smashed with a bat or stick by children attending,for example, a party. Typically, the children take turns beingblindfolded and trying to break the piñata, to have the candy and toysemerge from the piñata. In very common usage, each child is in turnblindfolded, handed the bat or stick, spun around one or more times, andthen encouraged to hack at the piñata. This practice places a bat orstick in the hands of blindfolded children, and as one might expect,others may become injured during the attempt of smashing the piñata. Inaddition, the one child who successfully breaks the piñata is considered“a winner” while the other watching children, feel like “losers.”

In response, some piñata makers created a piñata of similar shape,construction and material having multiple ribbons attached to itsstructure. The main body of the piñata has a trap door or opening, andone of the many ribbons is attached to this trap door. The other ribbonsare attached to other parts of the piñata. Because of the decoration onthe outside of the piñata, the children do not know which ribbon isattached to the trap door. After this type of piñata is filled withcandy or toys, each child, one at a time, pulls a ribbon from thesuspended piñata. All but the one ribbon that is attached to the trapdoor are easily removed with no release of the candy or toys. The oneribbon attached to the trap door will, when pulled, release the candy ortoys. However, this approach is not without its own problems. For one,some parents are unhappy with the situation of providing a single“winner” in the piñata game, i.e., the child that had the fun of openingthe piñata and releasing the candy while leaving the remainder of thechildren feeling unfulfilled or as “losers.” The absence of the piñataexploding or being destroyed is also lost in this prior art piñata.Also, some parents prefer that the birthday child or other honored guestof the party be the puller of the ribbon attached to the trap doorrelease mechanism.

Accordingly, there is a long felt need in the party favors art toprovide a safe, piñata-like device that involves neither blindfoldedchildren casting about with a bat, stick or other bludgeoning device nora single child (a limited number of children) enjoying the feeling ofbreaking open the piñata to release the candy. There is a need in theparty favors field to provide an inexpensive, colorful, safe,break-apart device where all participants feel like winners, i.e., whereall of the children feel like they have had a role in the release ofcandy and toys. There is also a need in the prior art for a piñatahaving the door characteristic which enables it to easily sit flat on atable. This will facilitate sales of the device since shelf space instores creates more of an impulse buy than suspended-from-the-ceilingdevices and the flat bottom also allows the device to serve as a partytable centerpiece until the moment of destruction. Also, a table top orfree standing breakable toy and candy carrier will not requiresuspending the device from a ceiling or tree limb. This makes it moresaleable, too. By providing a breakable, spreading candy and toysvirtually in all directions, piñata-like toy, the candy and small toyswill not merely, as in the suspended items, fall through the opened trapdoor (when the correct attached ribbon is pulled,) but the toys andcandy will seem to fly in all directions. This enhances the fun of usingthe party decoration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To satisfy the above long felt need and other similar objects, theinvention is a piñata-like device having a main exterior housing and aninterior cavity. Preferably the main structure is made of simplecardboard. The main housing includes multiple panels—a front panel, anda back panel, and, more preferably, at least one side panel. Each panelmay preferably be made into sub-panels by scoring, partially cutting, orcutting entirely through the main panels. Each panel and/or sub-panelhas attached thereto at least one ribbon, string, or similar structure.The panels and sub-panels are held together by masking tape whichpreferably is partially cut to simultaneously hold the device togetherand yet make it easily breakable when the ribbons are pulled.Preferably, each panel and/or sub-panel is provided with a slit or smallhole through which one end of the ribbon is passed, and the end travelsa small distance on the inside of the panel and then emerges through asecond slit. The ends are then taped to the exterior of the panels. Thedevice is preferably provided with at least one bottom or flat surfaceso that it may easily be displayed for sale on a shelf in a store or beused at a party on a table-top or on a similar flat surface.Alternatively or in addition, the inventive piñata-like device can besuspended from a high structure like a ceiling, tree limb, or the like.The device is decorated with fringe tissue, of many colors.

In operation, the main cavity is filled with candies, toys, or similarparty favors (either at the manufacturer, the retailer or by thecustomer); a large hole in the main housing may be provided for suchfilling. Such large hole is subsequently covered-up with a decal,sticker, or similar covering. Each child then takes hold of one or moreof the ribbons attached to the main housing of the device, and allchildren or guests pull on the ribbons simultaneously or substantiallysimultaneously. Because the main housing is made of a number of panelsand sub-panels that are secured together by partially cut masking tape,the pulling force generated by all of the participants pulling on all ormost of the ribbons literally pulls the device apart into a number ofpieces, resulting in an “explosion” of the contents inside. Muchmerriment is had by all. The passage of the end of the ribbon into theinterior through a first slit, along the interior of the panel andsub-panel and then securing it to the exterior, by passing it outthrough a second opening, causes the panel/sub-panel to spin while theribbon is pulled. This tends to cause the enclosed toys/candy to “fly”away from the device as it is destroyed. This, too, adds to themerriment of use of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a typical embodiment of a deviceaccording to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device in FIG. 2 fully assembled andshowing the insertion of candy and party favors inside the device.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of one of the inside surfaces of themain (front or back) panels of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fully assembled device in accordancewith the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 5 showing a person'shand pulling on one of the multiple ribbons of the device. A ribbon isattached to the trap door for facilitating placement of toys/candytherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, DRAWINGS AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Description of the invention will now be given with reference to theappended FIGS. 1 through 6. It should be noted that these figures areexemplary in nature and in no way serve to limit the scope of theinvention, which is defined by the claims appearing here and below.

FIGS. 1 through 6 show the basic configuration and construction of atabletop piñata 8 in accordance with the invention. Of course, it can besuspended from above, too. As shown in FIG. 1, tabletop piñata 8includes a main body 10 comprised of a front panel 12, a rear panel 14,and a side panel 16. In the preferred embodiment the panels are madefrom regular corrugated cardboard which is then decorated with fringetissue. Preferably, the invention is shaped to have a certain “look,”whether a device, e.g., a boat, an airplane, a car, star, etc.; ananimal, for example, a dinosaur, dog, cow, etc.; a licensed character,or any other shape. The device is decorated with fringe tissue (usuallymulti-colored) which is glued to the outside surface to enhance theoverall pleasing look.

The main body is provided with a hole or opening 30 passing through oneof the panels, in the illustrated embodiment through the front panel 12,which is covered by, in this example, a disc-shaped cover 32. Attachedto and emanating from various sections of the main body 10 are aplurality of ribbons or strings 40 or similar long, flexible, butsubstantially inelastic, hand-holdable elements. It is preferred thatthe bottom surface of (or at least one surface of the) main body 10 isflat so that the device may rest on a shelf or tabletop 50 or similarflat surface. The base of the shaped device will allow the device tostand erect or upright with respect to its shape. So, for example, astar shape will stand up on two points of the star. A car shape will siton a shelf supported on at least three of its tires. This would be incontrast to a star which would lean on its star shape on a shelf or acar shape, on its side. Alternatively, tabletop piñata 8 may besuspended from a high structure 60 (a ceiling, a tree limb, or aoverhead chandelier, for example) by securing means 62 which can be anyknown piñata securing structure known in the art. Alternatively, thebottom surface need not be flat but can have 3 or more resting pointsfor supporting the device on a flat surface. As yet another alternative,the bottom can, of course, be irregularly shaped, as more traditionalpiñatas. These latter configurations, however, may need to be laid flaton their side on a shelf for display at a retail location on hung fromthe ceiling.

FIG. 2 affords an exploded perspective view of main housing 10. The mainhousing is comprised of at least two sections and at least one ribbon orstring attached to each section. In the preferred embodiment, as will beexplained, the main housing actually comprises about 20 sections orsub-sections. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, main housing10 includes a substantially flat, front panel 12, a similarly shaped andsized, flat rear panel 14, and one or more side piece or panel 16secured between front and rear panels 12 and 14. In the preferredembodiment, side pieces or panels 16, extending between the front andrear panels 12 and 14, includes a flat base 18 which provides the flatbottom surface of main housing 10 described above. Alternatively, ofcourse, the base need not be flat to sit on a flat surface but, ofcourse, can have three points or legs to hold the same upright for itsshape on a flat shelf or table top. As yet another alternative, the baseneed not be capable of sitting on a shelf or table top and can beirregularly shaped. Here, then, it would be intended to be suspendedfrom above in traditional piñata style. Front 12 may be provided with anopening or hole 30 so that the cavity formed when panels 12, 14, and 16are assembled can be filled with candy, party favors, toys, or the like(hereinafter often referred to as “goodies.”) This filling of the cavitywith goodies can be done by the retailer or the device can be sold emptyand the consumer can fill the same at his/her home (or office). Adisc-like cover 32 may be removably secured and placed over opening orhole 30 to allow placement of goodies therein and to then seal the partyfavors inside the cavity.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the various panels 12, 14, and 16 of mainhousing 10 may be divided into sub-panels 20 by one of several methods.The illustrated example has several sub-panels for side panel 16. Somesub-panels 20 may be formed by scoring or partially cutting theoriginally die-cut front and rear panels 12, 14, or side panel 16 intosmaller sections. This results in many sub-sections. Preferably thedevice comprises, as mentioned, about 20 sub-sections. In addition or inthe alternative (and this is preferred), some or all sub-panels 20 ofside panel 16 are cut from separate cardboard blanks. However, the frontand rear panels are cut into many sub-panels, i.e., they are detachedfrom their respective original die-cut panels. Certainly, for the sidepanels 16, it is contemplated that they be formed of individual pieceswhich are then taped together. This would be done, however, after theribbons are first attached to the sub-panel pieces, as explained below,to provide a device which has some structural rigidity for holding thecandy or toys and, yet, will easily be destroyed when the ribbons arepulled, as will be described.

Each piece or sub-panel 20 is preferably provided with at least one orpossibly more than one slit 22 (two per ribbon is preferred) or similarsmall hole, the purpose of which will be described below. The slits arepreferably die cut at the same time that the panels are die cut andformed. Preferably each sub-panel is to be provided with a singleribbon. In the preferred embodiment, about 20 ribbons are provided tothe device. The disc-shaped cover is also provided with a ribbon, justlike the other pieces or sub-panels, to facilitate removal of the coverfor goodies insertion and to assist in the destruction or disassembly ofthe device as will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, each pair of spaced but parallel,rectangularly shaped slits 22 is threaded with the end of a singleribbon 40. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, oneend 42 of each ribbon is passed through a first of one of the pairedslits 22. The ribbon is then passed a short distance over the interiorsurface of the sub-panel or piece and the end of the ribbon 42 is thenthreaded out of the second of the paired set of slits 22. There, theribbon's end 42 is taped, glued, or otherwise secured to the outside ofthe sub-panel. It is important that the strength of the attachment ofend 42 of each ribbon 40 to each sub-panel 20 (i.e., tape 44) bestronger than the securing means, i.e., the masking tape, in thepreferred embodiment, holding the sub-panels to one another.

After the sub-panels or pieces of the device are first separated andribbons attached to each sub-panel, as described, the sub-panels arethen taped or glued back together (or secured together in similarfashion) at seams 26. This reforms the original perimeter and shape ofthe panels and when the panels and side panel pieces are all tapedtogether, again, by use of masking tape (about ¾″ in width), thecontainer is formed. Of course, the ribbons can be secured to the panelsbefore the pieces are cut apart to form sub-panels or after. Preferably,the ribbons are secured to the pieces or sub-panels before separation.

In addition or in the alternative, some or all of sub-panels 20 maysimply be originally cut from cardboard stock as separate pieces whichare then taped or glued (or the like) together to reform or form thepanels. In the preferred embodiment, the sub-panels are secured togetherby short pieces of masking tape. The masking tape does not follow orcover the entirety of the connecting edges (or seams) of adjacent piecesbut, rather, a small piece of tape extends from one sub-panel to anadjacent sub-panel and from front panel pieces to side panel pieces andback panel pieces to side panel pieces. A three dimensional structure isformed, with some rigidity, but maximizing strength of connection ofpanel and sub-panels is really not essential. In the preferredembodiment, the masking tape connections are then cut, preferably about50% through their widths, i.e., cuts are made along the edges on seamsconnecting the adjacent sub-panels. This ensures that the device will beeasily destroyed when the ribbons are pulled outwardly, as will bedescribed. Again, the manufacturing process is intended to provide astructurally integral body, capable of being supported on a shelf ortable or suspended, a container capable of holding a small quantity ofgoodies and, yet, the device needs to be easily disassembled or“exploded” when the ribbons are desirably pulled.

The taping of adjacent sub-panels 20 occurs across seams 26. Theintention is to make the bond between a ribbon 40 and its respectivesub-panel 20 relatively strong and permanent, while making the bondbetween adjacent sub-panels 20 relatively frangible and somewhatdetachable upon application of appropriate force. The purpose of havingthe ribbon pass through one slit, along an inside surface of a sub-panelpiece and then out through a second slit of a pair of parallel andspaced slits is to enhance the exploding effect, when the ribbons arepulled. More specifically, with the ribbons threaded and secured asindicated, the outward pull on the ribbons not only destroys the devicebecause the force on the ribbons is greater than the strength of themasking tape holding the sub-panels together, but, in addition, pullingon the ribbon will cause the sub-panel pieces to tend to rotate about anaxis passing perpendicular to the ribbon, but in the plane of thesub-panel piece. This rotation cause the goodies of the container tomove upwardly, outwardly, in many directions, all at once and the visualeffect of exploding the device is enhanced.

The fully assembled product is shown in FIG. 5. In addition to the basiccontainer structure shown, tissue fringe, tissue paper, or any otherknown decoration may be attached to the outside of main body 10.Generally, tissue fringe of many colors is employed to visual effect.The tissue fringe is simply glued to the outside surface of the device.Here, too, some additional integrity is provided to the device by theaddition of the tissue fringe but it is still easily overcome by outwardpulling on the ribbons since the masking tape holding togethersub-panels is, as mentioned, at least partially cut (in the preferredembodiment) and the strength added by the tissue fringe is notsignificant.

In operation, the invention works as follows and as shown in FIG. 6.First, referring to FIG. 3, cover 32 is removed from hole 30, and partyfavors or goodies 70 are inserted within cavity 80 of piñata 8. Cover 32is replaced over hole 30. The device can sit on a table or be suspended.Each of the ribbons 40 is grasped by a different child, hand orparticipant as shown in FIG. 6. Even the ribbon of the cover 32 can begrasped for helping to explode the device. Each child or participant isthen encouraged to pull on his or her ribbon(s), outwardly, i.e., in thedirection of arrow “A” as shown in FIG. 6. Since each child orparticipant pulls on his or her respective ribbons relativelysimultaneously, a lot of force is generated and substantially evenlydistributed around piñata device 8. Each ribbon, when pulled in thedirection of arrow “A,” yanks the sub-panel 20 to which it is attachedin the direction of arrow “B” as shown in FIG. 6. Since each of thesub-panels are being yanked in a different direction, the container“explodes”, and candy and party favors, the goodies, scatteraccordingly, to the delight of all. As mentioned, the distribution ofthe goodies and the exploding effect is believed enhanced by the mannerof threading the ribbons through the pairs of slits and attaching theribbons to the outside of the sub-panels. Force generated by each childor participant pulling on each ribbon 40 in the direction of arrows “A”is more than sufficient to overcome the securing force (the partiallycut masking tape) at seams 26.

The invention is not limited to the above description. For example,instead of masking tape or similar securing of adjacent sub-panels atseams 26, glue may also be used. As another possible variation, the end42 of ribbon 40 may be connected to a disk or button 46 that is largerthan the size of slit or hole 22 and constructed preferably of a moredurable material than sub-panel 20. Disks 46 may or may not be glued,taped, or secured to sub-panels 20. The disks 46 will be on the insideof the container and prevent the ribbons from passing out through thesingle associated slits. Rather, the diameter or size of the disks orbuttons will be greater than the widths of the slits so that the ribbonwill, upon outward pulling, cause the sub-panels to become detached, onefrom adjacent other. Also, the invention need not have discrete front,back, and rear panels but may be made in any shape, including but notlimited to a soccer ball, a football, an animal, a geometric shape, aperson's head, etc. As one may infer from this list, the panels and/orsub-panels need not be flat but may be curvilinear, stepped, orotherwise varied in contour.

Having described the invention, it should be realized that the inventionis not limited by the above description or the drawings appended heretobut is rather defined by the claims appearing here and below and allequivalence thereto know by those of ordinary skill of the art.

1. A piñata-like device, comprising: at least two panels forming an atleast partially hollow container; a plurality of ribbons, at least oneof said ribbons being attached to each of said panels, said panels beingsecured by securement means to one another to form said container, yetfrangibly detachable from one another; and wherein when said ribbons arepulled, said panels substantially detach from one another, and anycontents held within said cavity are made available.
 2. A piñata-likedevice according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said panels isprovided with at least one slit, wherein an end of said ribbon for saidpanel is passed through said slit and securely attached to the surfaceof said panel.
 3. A piñata-like device according to claim 1, whereinsaid plurality of panels comprise a front panel and a rear panel andfurther comprising at least one side panel.
 4. A piñata-like deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein at least one of said panels is formed intosub-panels.
 5. A piñata-like device according to claim 1, wherein saidsecurement means is masking tape.
 6. A piñata-like device according toclaim 1, further comprising: an access hole formed through at least oneof said panels.
 7. A piñata-like device according to claim 6 furthercomprising a cover securably attachable to said access hole.
 8. Apiñata-like device according to claim 1 wherein said ribbons are securedto said panel(s) by tape.
 9. A piñata-like device according to claim 2,further comprising a second slit associated with at least one of saidprovided slits, wherein said ribbon passes first through said firstslit, then through said second slit and is securely attached to theoutside of said panel.
 10. A piñata-like device according to claim 4wherein substantially all of said panels are provided with at least oneribbon.
 11. A piñata-like device according to claim 1 wherein thestrength of said attachment of said ribbons to said panels is strongerthan said securement means.
 12. A piñata-like device according to claim1 wherein said device is capable of standing in an upright manner on alevel surface in reference to the shape of the device.
 13. A piñata-likedevice according to claim 12 wherein said device is supported by atleast 3 points.
 14. A piñata-like device according to claim 1 whereinsaid device has a flat surface on its bottom.
 15. A piñata-like deviceaccording to claim 3 wherein said front panel, said rear panel, and saidside panel are formed into about 20 sub-panels and each sub-panel isprovided with a ribbon.
 16. A piñata-like device according to claim 1wherein said securement means comprises masking tape which is pre-cutacross its width to decrease the strength of said securement means. 17.A piñata-like device according to claim 16 wherein said pre-cut of saidmasking tape is across about 50% of the width of said masking tape. 18.A piñata-like device according to claim 1 further comprising covering atleast a portion of said panels with tissue fringe.
 19. A piñata-likedevice according to claim 1 wherein said panels are formed fromcardboard.
 20. A piñata-like device according to claim 9, wherein saidribbons, when pulled, cause said panels and sub-panels to rotate aboutan axis perpendicular to said ribbons attached thereto.
 21. A method ofmaking a piñata-like device comprising the steps of: a) cutting a frontpanel and a rear panel from cardboard; b) cutting into either said frontpanel or said rear panel an access opening; c) separating at least saidfront panel or said rear panel into at least 2 sub-panel sections; d)attaching said panels and said sub-panels with securement means to forma container-like device; e) securing at least one ribbon to each of saidsub-panels, and said front and said rear panels such that the strengthof securing said ribbons to said sub-panels and said front and rearpanels is greater than the strength of said securement means.